Redbud trees bloom across the American Midwest in late March and early April, offering patches of color in woodlands that have not yet recovered from their winter slumber. The purple-pink flowers also contrast with the damp, gray weather that characterizes this period.
Members of the legume family, their early spring glory comes with a price. Before long, abundant seed pods will festoon these small trees, releasing countless kernels of life that clog our gardens and flower beds with saplings.
Yet, we allow some of the offspring to grow, knowing that next spring, when we need them the most, their beauty will lift our spirits and restore our faith in nature's cycle of life.
See also: Bean Trees
